Published: Monday, December 28, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 28, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.

They are man's best friend because they are extremely intelligent. They can sense things that you and I are never going to sense. Second, they accept us as we are. They don't care whether you are big, little, black, green, blue. They are always trying to please us. I am a firm believer in many respects that dogs, to some extent, can read our mind. They can definitely sense if we are happy, sad, depressed. A lot of people misunderstand that. They don't necessarily know how to speak dog. There is lot of body language that these dogs give off. The position of the tail can tell you a lot. They are the only animal that is part of the household. They are treated as kids in some respect. In this country, the dog is probably treated better than some humans. But they are very adapting in our human culture. The accept you as who you are.

How did you become interested in dogs and dog training?

I have been around dogs and horses most of my adult life. Many years ago, I was a law enforcement park ranger, working out west. After I got out of that, I worked in a couple of working horse and cattle ranches. I have always had dogs. I adopted them or they were given to me, and every one of them I trained because it's better to have a well-behaved dog that can be socialized and taken anywhere. I specifically tell my clients, a lot of socialization. A lot of people have dogs in the backyard that never see outside of that fence. When they escape or someone comes over, there can be problems. I specifically train the dogs on a one-on-one basis. I go to your home, because most, if not all, the problems exist in your home.

How did you decide to go from training your own dog to working with other people's dogs?

I was asked numerous times by many friends that I know and people that I know. I trained Candy, my yellow lab. I acquired her when she was 4 and a half years old. She is 12 years old now. I trained her almost like a service dog. She does things like open doors, close doors, carrying anything you ask her to. Through that process, people kept saying, "Can you train my dog?" So, I started to do it not necessarily on a free basis, but I realized I could have a business. I like being around animals. They respond to me very well.

What process should people go through when they are thinking about a dog and selecting a particular breed?

Don't get the breed of dog or the type of dog because they are cute. Or they have been abused. You need to research the animal, even if it's a mixed-breed. I question a lot of people who say they want a dalmatian or I want a husky. I tell them to acquire the dog with the same amount of energy level that you are willing to have. I have several clients who are elderly, but they somehow acquired a puppy. You have two opposing energies. The puppies are like having children. They are bouncing of the walls, barking all the time, but the energy level of the owner is not able to keep up.

What is the key to training an animal?

Consistency is the extremely important and repetition. Praise, patience and repetition. Consistency is something I tell all my clients. If I go into your home and I teach you certain things that are pretty simple, but from the dog's point of view it is really a requirement for him to understand what is going on. If I teach you one way and you do it a different way, it is confusing to the animal. It's something as simple as eating. You have to eat first, even if it is just getting the bowl and pretending to eat. The dog is seeing you and seeing you as the leader. That is the way it works. It's the K-9 mind, not human. But then a week down the road you say what the heck, let's feed Bobo first, If you do it enough times, it confuses a dog.

Do you get a lot of satisfaction from seeing a dog with behavioral problems become well behaved?

Yes, I have numerous clients who hire me for that exact reason. There was a dog that was attacked on Fourth Avenue by another dog. In that process, he became very dog aggressive. I worked with him to the point where now he is an excellent dog. A good citizen. I have the same situation with a husky, a beautiful husky whom I adopted from a client in South Carolina. He had never been socialized, never shared anything with anyone and most definitely never been around people. But I have worked with him to the point where it is a beautiful animal.

Besides training animals, you also board them. Why did you decide to do that?

My family, meaning my sister, we purchased a house together. I have only been there about two months. We looked for a place that has a big yard. The boarding started because all my clients asked for a place to keep their dog. But I want to be clear, this is not a kennel. There are no cages outside. But they live in the house. Kennels have their place, but there are 30, 35 dogs, and they are all barking. There can be eight dogs here, and it can be quiet. Even being here is part of the training process. Every one of them will sit down before they are fed. There is no fighting. There are no arguments.

What is the process of training an animal?

My sessions are usually two hours long and a lot of that is retaining and working with the owner. I am pretty firm, not firm to the point of being rude but firm to the point where they realize this is the way this animal should be taught. The dog will learn. You have to be consistent. The question I am asked often is: How long will it take to train the dog? I say that depends on you. It depends on how much of the training you want. Serious behavior problems take a little longer.

<p>Age: 56</p><p>Family: single </p><p>Why are dogs such good companions for people?</p><p>They are man's best friend because they are extremely intelligent. They can sense things that you and I are never going to sense. Second, they accept us as we are. They don't care whether you are big, little, black, green, blue. They are always trying to please us. I am a firm believer in many respects that dogs, to some extent, can read our mind. They can definitely sense if we are happy, sad, depressed. A lot of people misunderstand that. They don't necessarily know how to speak dog. There is lot of body language that these dogs give off. The position of the tail can tell you a lot. They are the only animal that is part of the household. They are treated as kids in some respect. In this country, the dog is probably treated better than some humans. But they are very adapting in our human culture. The accept you as who you are. </p><p>How did you become interested in dogs and dog training?</p><p>I have been around dogs and horses most of my adult life. Many years ago, I was a law enforcement park ranger, working out west. After I got out of that, I worked in a couple of working horse and cattle ranches. I have always had dogs. I adopted them or they were given to me, and every one of them I trained because it's better to have a well-behaved dog that can be socialized and taken anywhere. I specifically tell my clients, a lot of socialization. A lot of people have dogs in the backyard that never see outside of that fence. When they escape or someone comes over, there can be problems. I specifically train the dogs on a one-on-one basis. I go to your home, because most, if not all, the problems exist in your home. </p><p>How did you decide to go from training your own dog to working with other people's dogs?</p><p>I was asked numerous times by many friends that I know and people that I know. I trained Candy, my yellow lab. I acquired her when she was 4 and a half years old. She is 12 years old now. I trained her almost like a service dog. She does things like open doors, close doors, carrying anything you ask her to. Through that process, people kept saying, "Can you train my dog?" So, I started to do it not necessarily on a free basis, but I realized I could have a business. I like being around animals. They respond to me very well. </p><p>What process should people go through when they are thinking about a dog and selecting a particular breed?</p><p>Don't get the breed of dog or the type of dog because they are cute. Or they have been abused. You need to research the animal, even if it's a mixed-breed. I question a lot of people who say they want a dalmatian or I want a husky. I tell them to acquire the dog with the same amount of energy level that you are willing to have. I have several clients who are elderly, but they somehow acquired a puppy. You have two opposing energies. The puppies are like having children. They are bouncing of the walls, barking all the time, but the energy level of the owner is not able to keep up. </p><p>What is the key to training an animal?</p><p>Consistency is the extremely important and repetition. Praise, patience and repetition. Consistency is something I tell all my clients. If I go into your home and I teach you certain things that are pretty simple, but from the dog's point of view it is really a requirement for him to understand what is going on. If I teach you one way and you do it a different way, it is confusing to the animal. It's something as simple as eating. You have to eat first, even if it is just getting the bowl and pretending to eat. The dog is seeing you and seeing you as the leader. That is the way it works. It's the K-9 mind, not human. But then a week down the road you say what the heck, let's feed Bobo first, If you do it enough times, it confuses a dog. </p><p>Do you get a lot of satisfaction from seeing a dog with behavioral problems become well behaved?</p><p>Yes, I have numerous clients who hire me for that exact reason. There was a dog that was attacked on Fourth Avenue by another dog. In that process, he became very dog aggressive. I worked with him to the point where now he is an excellent dog. A good citizen. I have the same situation with a husky, a beautiful husky whom I adopted from a client in South Carolina. He had never been socialized, never shared anything with anyone and most definitely never been around people. But I have worked with him to the point where it is a beautiful animal.</p><p>Besides training animals, you also board them. Why did you decide to do that?</p><p>My family, meaning my sister, we purchased a house together. I have only been there about two months. We looked for a place that has a big yard. The boarding started because all my clients asked for a place to keep their dog. But I want to be clear, this is not a kennel. There are no cages outside. But they live in the house. Kennels have their place, but there are 30, 35 dogs, and they are all barking. There can be eight dogs here, and it can be quiet. Even being here is part of the training process. Every one of them will sit down before they are fed. There is no fighting. There are no arguments.</p><p>What is the process of training an animal?</p><p>My sessions are usually two hours long and a lot of that is retaining and working with the owner. I am pretty firm, not firm to the point of being rude but firm to the point where they realize this is the way this animal should be taught. The dog will learn. You have to be consistent. The question I am asked often is: How long will it take to train the dog? I say that depends on you. It depends on how much of the training you want. Serious behavior problems take a little longer.</p>